Through our innovative engagement and
collaborative voice, our community thrives.

4

Message from the Mayor

5

Message from the President

6

2017 Member Benefits

8

Meet your Chamber Staff

9

Board of Directors

10

Chamber Benefits

12

Business Excellence Awards 2016

14

Personal Growth & Development

16

Membership Index

18

Membership Directory

50

Acknowledgements

52

Carbon Footprint Reduction

Acknowledgements:
We would like to thank our Board of Directors. As
volunteers on the board, the knowledge, wisdom,
and expertise you provide to the Chamber is
invaluable to our organization. If you are interested
in becoming a Board Member please contact us!
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce extends
appreciation to all members for their submissions in
this year’s directory. Remember to call us any time
during the year to update your information as it
changes.
Staff and Board Photos >> Focal Point Studios
Cover Photo >> Felicia Magee
Layout & Design >> Prince George Citizen

The Prince George Chamber of Commerce has tried to accurately represent it’s members in this Directory. However, the Prince George Chamber of Commerce
cannot, and does not, guarantee the correctness of all information, nor the complete absence of errors and omissions, hence no responsibility is assumed.

4

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

message from the

Mayor

On behalf of City Council, it is my pleasure to
welcome you to the 2017 Source Membership
Directory.
Over the past year, the City of Prince
George has hit some significant milestones
relating to the local economy. Last July, the
Conference Board of Canada released a
report, which found that Prince George had
the strongest economic outlook among seven
other mid-sized Canadian cities. The report
also indicates that Prince George’s GDP is
expected to increase throughout 2017.
Prince George reached an all-time high in
private sector construction according to
the value of building permits issued in 2016.
Records indicate that 96 percent ($122.5
Million) of the total value of the permits issued
($128 Million) came from private investment.
This reinforces the results of the City’s firstever Business Outreach Program, conducted
last year, which indicated a high level of
confidence in the city’s economic prospects
among the 65 businesses interviewed as part
of the program.
As a service and supply hub, Prince George
businesses provide products and services
locally and export goods and services to
companies across Canada and around the
world. I invite any businesses interested
in learning more about the services and
incentives offered to local businesses and
the benefits of establishing a presence in
Prince George to contact the City’s Economic
Development Division for information and
support at 250.561.7633 or visit the website at
investprincegeorge.ca.
It is an exciting time to do business in Prince
George!
Sincerely,
Lyn Hall, Mayor
City of Prince George

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

message from the

President
We are proud to present the 2017 edition of
the Prince George Chamber of Commerce
Source Membership Directory. I am honored
to be elected to serve as President of our local
Chamber and enthusiastic about our diverse
and exciting community-minded businesses and
organizations.
This directory features a list of our distinguished
members, categorized by the products and
services they offer. Our membership is made
up of businesses which have set standards
and demonstrated achievements that have
contributed to the prosperity and business
development in Prince George. I encourage you
to use the directory to purchase products and
services offered by our local business community.
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce is the
voice of business in Prince George. With over 100
years of service to the community and the ninth
largest chamber in BC, we consciously evolve to
continuously meet member needs. Through our
innovative engagement and our collaborative
voice, our community thrives.
The Chamber works to meet and exceed
our membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; expectations for the value of
membership and improve the conditions for
businesses to flourish and support a healthy
community. This includes advocating to all levels
of government for better conditions for business,
being a resource for networking and business
connections, creating opportunities for you
to showcase your products and services, and
providing value-added benefits.
This year we are looking forward to some great
events, including our Speaker Series Luncheons
and educational workshops, which allow you to
make a deeper connection with other chamber
members and learn from first-rate speakers.
The Business Development Forum is a great
opportunity each year to hear from captivating
keynote speakers on regional opportunities.
The Business Excellence Awards allows you to
celebrate our business community while having
great food and a fun night. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the
India trip for a fantastic adventure to expand
your horizons. We are constantly working on
more great events to engage our membership
while providing many different ways for members
to promote themselves and make critical
connections for further growth and development.
I look forward to serving you as Chamber
President in 2017. I welcome your calls or
comments about any aspect of the Chamber.
Corey Naphtali, President
Prince George Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors

5

6

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

MEMBER B
CHamBer memBer 1

sallY

Benefits

Chamber Plan
Johnson Insurance

Sally owns Northern BC Widgets, based
out of Prince George, but with locations
across northwest BC. As part of the
local Chamber, Sally can travel
easily with travel, hotel, and
car rental discounts almost
Credit Card
everywhere she goes
ProCessing
in the province; she
First Data
can also put visiting
Versa Pay
co-workers in hotels
locally for a great
price. All of Sally’s
offices access
discounted
office supplies
through Chamber
benefits, and fuel for
her fleet of vehicles is
fuel
discounted at a variety
of gas stations. Even
disCounts
payroll and point of
Esso
sale processing and
Shell
equipment are through
Petro Canada
Chamber benefit
providers! Sally keeps
her employees happy
with excellent group
insurance coverage
with the Chamber
Plan. When sending
Hotel & travel
parcels between offices,
BC Chamber Travel Discounts
both UPS and Purolator
PARK ‘N FLY Airport Parking
Treasure Cove Hotel
provide great rates for
Prince Motel
Chamber members. To give
Days Inn Prince George
back to the Chamber and to
Norton North Ranch
show community support, the
Cottages
business sponsors the Chamber’s
major event each year.

2017
memBer
Benefits

CommuniCations
ABC Communications
Broadconnect Telecom
TLC Solutions

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

7

BENEFITS
retail

Core Salon & Spa
Play Grounds Café
Sticky’s Candy

For more information
and a full list of member
benefits please call our
office or visit our website

Joe owns Small Biz PG, a small homebased business. Joe joined the
PG Chamber and is seeing
Professional
positive results. His
serviCes
business is already
Fuller Business Development
more visible just
The Hubspace
by being listed on
Waste Management Inc.
the Chamber’s
Van Houtte Coffee
website,
Services Inc.
business
Added Advantage Marketing
card rack,
Money MIracles
and printed
directory.
Joe attends
Chamber
lunches
or afterHealtH &
hours events
frequently to
Wellness
network and find
Northern Sport Centre
potential clients;
Prince George Weight
a discounted
Loss & Wellness
subscription with
Constant Contact
allows him to keep
in touch with clients
easily. Marketing
his small business
is a breeze with the
radio and online ads
sHiPPing &
he can create for a
Courier
low cost through other
Chamber
members. Joe
UPS
also discovered he was even
Purolator
eligible for group insurance
through the Chamber Plan!
Joe knows that even though he’s
a small business, the Chamber’s
advocacy program is on his side,
helping small businesses thrive. For time
for himself, Joe uses the discounted gym
membership provided by another member.
How good does it get?

8

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

meet your

Chamber Staff
Christie Ray

Chief Executive Officer
ceo@pgchamber.bc.ca

Christie oversees Chamber operations
and is accountable to the Board
of Directors. She prepares and
implements the Chamber’s strategic
policies in collaboration with the
Board, and manages the Chamber’s
business and financial affairs. She is
the primary voice for the Chamber to
the public.

Felicia Magee

Projects & Executive
Coordinator
admin@pgchamber.bc.ca
Felicia is responsible for managing
and implementing a wide range of
Chamber projects and activities.
She schedules, coordinates and
documents all meetings, maintains the
Chamber website, creates the weekly
newsletters as well as coordinating
all its advertising and assists with the
coordination of various luncheons and
special events.

Meghan Ginter

Erin Tulle

Bookkeeper &
Office Administrator
bookkeeper@pgchamber.bc.ca

Erin is the first point of contact for
people who call or visit the Chamber
office. She coordinates all office
supply orders, inventory and mail
outs. She manages membership
payments, takes Chamber event
registrations and is responsible for
completing all bookkeeping tasks.
Erin also coordinates the PG Showcase
Tours and runs the registration table
at all our events.

Camille MacDonald

Communications Coordinator
communications@pgchamber.bc.ca
Camille is responsible for overseeing all
Chamber communication. This includes
public presentations, media releases,
reports, publications, and marketing
materials. She acts as a liaison between
the media and the Chamber while also
managing the Chamber’s social media
channels.

Barbara Otter

(currently on maternity leave)

Project Coordinator
Barbara.otter@pgchamber.bc.ca

(contract replacement)

Barbara manages and facilitates large
specially funded projects that are
administered by the Chamber. These
projects include: the Carbon Reduction
Project and the Collaborations Project.
Barbara is not only the main point of
contact overseeing these projects but
she also liaises between the Chamber,
post-secondary institutions, funding
agencies and industry; recruits business
participation; and manages all project
promotion and reporting.

Laura Lawrence

Membership & Events Manager
membership@pgchamber.bc.ca

Meghan is responsible for all member
services. As the key contact for
members, she handles all inquiries;
provides information on membership
benefits, programs and discounts; and
promotes the interests of all members.
She builds strong relationships
with the business community and
prospective new members. Meghan is
also responsible for coordinating our
Speaker Series luncheons, workshops,
Business After 5 socials and Coffee
Hours.

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

9

meet the

Board of Directors
President
Corey Naphtali
Partner, KPMG

Vice President
of Finance
Lorna Wendling
Senior Manager,
Deloitte

Vice President
Bill Quinn
President, NuStride
Executive Coaching

Vice President
Frankie Albano

Past President
Cindi Pohl

Director
Daniel Weeks

Senior Manager,
TBJ LLP

Account Manager,
Waste Management

President &
Vice-Chancellor,
UNBC

Director
Derek Dougherty

Director
Kallie Smith

Director
Kara Biles

Assistant Vice
President & Branch
Manager, Canadian
Western Bank

Executive Director,
Prince George
Aboriginal Business
and Community
Development
Centre

Chamber Benefits
“Don’t judge each day
by the harvest you reap
but by the seeds that
you plant.” -Robert
Louis Stevenson

The Chamber is where
decisions are made, voices
are heard and connections are
endless -Business happens
here! Our members make
up a complete cross section
of industries, professions,
age groups and businesses.
We advocate for large
corporations, small business,
home business, and charity
organizations. The Chamber
works for you and the needs of
your business, whatever that
may be.

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

The Real Value of
Membership

•

The Chamber is committed to providing you
with opportunities to:
• Connect with the ever growing business
community through networking and
referrals.
• Engage through learning opportunities
including workshops and luncheons.
• Enhance your business through credibility
and savings to your bottom line.

A membership with the Chamber costs, on
average, $31 per month (for small businesses
with 5-10 employees). No advertisement
in any publication is that affordable. And if
it were, chances are, it wouldn’t deliver a
high return on investment. So, how is the
Chamber different?

Professional Growth and
Community Involvement
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce
strives to offer a variety of mediums and
opportunities for our members to grow both
professionally and in turn, as a business.
Join us for our monthly events, ranging from
peer-to-peer networking and workshops to
Speaker Series luncheons. If you are looking
for a more involved role within the Chamber,
consider contributing your talents to one of
our volunteer committees:
Advocacy
this committee focuses on:
• Understanding and utilizing
membership surveys.
• Addressing critical issues by moving
member’s business interests forward to
government.
Communication
this committee focuses on:
• Enhancing media relations and social
media integration.
• Creating and implementing a
communication and promotions
strategy/plan.
• Delivering Chamber’s purpose to the
public.
Service Delivery
this committee focuses on:
• Creating unique training opportunities
for Chamber members.
• Planning of major events (ie: Business

•

Excellence Awards).
Business improvement and promoting
Prince George.
Special project delivery such as the PG
Showcase Tours.

The Chamber is your networking catalyst!
Members, along with other local business
people, attend our monthly luncheons,
workshops and peer-to-peer networking
events. We strive to offer a variety of topics
for our luncheons and workshops that
are relevant and beneficial to our diverse
membership. After the event, you have the
perfect opportunity to network, shake hands
and circulate business cards! The people
you meet might not need your product or
service that day, but they may in the future,
or know someone who does!

Benefits of
Membership
•

•
•
•
•
•

•

Chambers of Commerce Group
Insurance Plan; Dental Insurance,
Extended Health Care, AD&D, Assure
Drug Card, Best Doctors®, Group
Retirement Solutions, Business
Assistance and more!
An informative website with free online
listings devoted to promoting our
members.
Social and Business Media Promotions.
Speaker Series Luncheons.
A host of business training seminars and
webinars.
Free listing printed in The Source
Directory Guide with the option
of purchasing extra ad spaces or
classifications.
Member to member discount programs.

Contact Membership & Events Manager @
250-562-2454 for more details.

•
•
•

•

Strong business advocacy.
Sponsorship opportunities at various
events.
Opportunities for leadership
development by serving on the Board
of Directors or to chair/serve on a
Chamber Committee.
FREE rack space for brochures or
business cards at our Chamber office.

Advertising with the Chamber
The Prince George Chamber of Commerce
offers our members affordable advertising
options to help create awareness of your
business.
•

Chamber Chatter: This bi-weekly
e-newsletter keeps our members up to
date with what’s happening with the
Prince George Chamber of Commerce.
This is a simple and inexpensive way to
advertise your business for only $100 +
tax per issue.

•

Hot Deals: This is the ultimate way to
offer a short term promotion to the
public or exclusively to other Chamber
members! Offer them a deal they can’t
refuse for only $10 + tax per week.

•

Enhanced Directory Listing: You can
enhance your portfolio presence on our
website for an annual cost of $180 +tax.
That’s only $15 + tax per month! Add
1400 additional words to your business
description, 10 or more photos in a
gallery slide show, a YouTube video, 5
bullet points, logo, and a map link!

•

Live Banner Ads: Post your live banner
ad in the Job/Career section, Events
section, or the Business Directory
search! Choose one or all sections
to display your rotating banner. This
exclusive option is available to only
five businesses per section. This yearly
contract is $500 + tax or $41.67 + tax
per month, per section!

•

Event Website: Are you organizing
an event? Do you need your own
webpage with the ability to process
online registration? We have the
solution! The Chamber now offers our
members the opportunity to have their
own event webpage with payment
processing! Event registration and
management is convenient and easy
through the “Events” tab on our website
- www.pgchamber.bc.ca. The value of
maximizing your event success is $500
+tax (due upon signing) + 2% of total
ticket sales. With this package you also
receive up to 3 advertisements in the
Chamber Chatter e-newsletter for FREE
($300 value).

11

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

a
h

of Comme
r
e
rc
b
m

2016
Business

e

C

12

Excellence

AWA RD S
Business Person
of the Year
Doug Bell
Sponsored by: BDC

Entrepreneur
of the Year
Doug Bell
Sponsored by:
KPMG

SERVICE
EXCELLENCE
Northern Hardware
& Furniture
Sponsored by:
CANFOR

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

13

Environmental
Awareness

Business of the Year
Northern Lights
Estate Winery
Sponsored by:
Waste Management
of Canada Corp.

Innovator
of the Year
Play Grounds Café
Sponsored by:
Heather Sadler
Jenkins

Micro Business Of
the Year

Tourism &
Hospitality

Game Quest

Northern Lights
Estate Winery

Sponsored by:
Pine Centre Mall’s
Specialty Leasing
Department

Sponsored by:
Tourism Prince
George

Outstanding Corporate
Culture

Hell Yeah Prince
George Ambassador

Two Rivers Gallery

Kyle Sampson

Sponsored by:
Canadian Western
Bank

Sponsored by:
Prince George
Airport Authority

Be Part of the Biggest Event of the Year!
The 2016 Business Excellence Awards Gala unintentionally brought this event back to the very basics
of celebrating our local businesses. The last minute changes to our emcee and program meant the main
entertainment for the evening was the excitement of announcing our winners. The “Back to the Future”
theme provided a fun opportunity for our 280 attendees to embrace their “inner scientist” or pull an
outfit from the back of the closet and blast back to the 80’s.
This year, the 2017 Gala is being reinvented into a glamourous new format that should not be missed!
Make the most of your business’s marketing dollars by considering the unique sponsorship opportunities
available to member business (large or small) for our 2017 BEA Gala. Don’t miss this great opportunity
to activate your membership and take part in Prince George’s biggest and most lavish business event of
the year! For more information please contact the Chamber CEO at 250.562.2454.

14

2016
2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

personal

Growth & Development
Get up, drop the kids off at school,
go to work, come home, have
dinner, watch Netflix, go to bed.
Day after day, the same routine. It’s
easy to fall into this kind of pattern
– and there’s nothing wrong with
that, if you feel completely fulfilled!
But what if you want more?
The PG Chamber is known for supporting
business. But we also want to support
our members, as people! By taking some
time to think about what you want, you
can live a richer life both personally and
professionally; by maximizing your own
potential, you also increase the chance
of success in your business. We believe
happy, healthy people are the base of
every successful organization; they also
help build a stronger community. That’s
why we want to support you along the
way! It all starts with asking yourself an
important question:
• What do I REALLY want? Think about
your career, family, health/fitness,
relationships, spirituality, “Bucket
List” - any aspect of your life that
could improve. Spend a few minutes
brainstorming. To help solidify them,

write your ideas down on paper. Do you
want to improve your health, through
exercise? Learn to better manage your
time? Take your family on that vacation
you’ve been dreaming about?
• Choose your top 3: As the old saying
goes, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day!’ From
your list, choose the ideas you most want
to pursue. One of the keys to personal
growth, is to be realistic (which is why
so many New Years’ resolutions are
abandoned by February!). Many of us
beat ourselves up, when we can’t attain
our lofty goals right away. So – choose
your ‘Top 3’ based on what you MOST
want to achieve.
• Break it down: The next step, is to take
each chosen goal, and think about what
you will need to do to make it happen.
For example – to take your family on a
dream vacation, maybe you will have to
set up a savings account at your bank,
and pre-authorize an amount to transfer
into it every month. You might create an
idea board (Pinterest, anyone?), listing
the activities you want to do. Also, you
might benefit from sitting down with a
travel agent, to discuss cost and flight
options. When you break it down into

small steps, a big goal is manageable!
• Timeline: For each goal, take your to-do
list and transfer them into a timeline.
What items can you (realistically!!)
accomplish this week? This month? In the
next 6 months? By the end of the year?
Then, start scheduling them into your
life. If you have a calendar – pencil in (or
upload!) the items from your to-do list.
If your goals are important to you, make
time for them. You will feel an incredible
amount of satisfaction, when you start
taking concrete steps towards the life
you want.
• Ask for help: For many of us – this could
be the toughest step of all! Asking for
help is not a sign of weakness; it shows
great self-awareness and courage. If you
don’t know how to break down a goal
into smaller steps, think about who you
could turn to. You probably have at least
one family member, friend, or colleague
who knows! For example, if you want to
improve your time management, go to
someone whose efficiency you admire.
Tell them you respect their skills, and
would like to learn from them – they will
most likely be flattered, and more than
willing to help!

2017 The Source | Prince George Chamber of Commerce

• Be accountable: You’re more
likely to achieve your goals if
someone is holding your feet to
the fire! Think about who you
know, who will be honest with
you (your spouse or best friend
may NOT be the best choice).
This should be someone you trust,
but who is far enough removed
from your situation to be able
to see it clearly. Tell them about
the goal, and timeline you have
set out. Ask them to check in
with you regularly. If you haven’t
completed items from your to-do
list – they shouldn’t hold back!
When someone else is counting
on you, you will be more likely to
follow through.
You will need to be determined;
sometimes, life happens! There will
likely be road blocks – financial,
family, or personal – that stand
between you and your goal. Keep
at it, and the rewards are HUGE!
Think about what it would feel like,
to achieve something that really
matters to you.
The Chamber would love to help
support you, along the way. If you
don’t already, come to one of our

luncheons, or “Business After 5”
networking events. These are great
opportunities to meet others in
similar situations, working to similar
objectives.
We also partner with others
who are working to grow a
community of people trying to
be their best. That’s why we host
the Administrative Professionals’
Breakfast, and promote Leadercast
and Ignite. These events provide
not only inspiration, but the tools
you need to reach your goals. The
Chamber is proud to align with and
support these initiatives.
Ready to take your development to
the next level? A professional coach
can guide and support you along
the way. Our membership includes
local professionals who specialize
in HR, finance, leadership, business,
life coaching and more. Browse the
Business Directory on our website,
give us a call (250-562-2454), or
pop by the office (890 Vancouver
St). We would be glad to help
connect you with the right one. Let
the Chamber be your partner in
success! In business – and life – we
are in your corner.

~Create a strong compelling vision for 2018.
~Get inspired with tools from local experts.
~Launch a personal plan to achieve amazing results
and stay on track all year long!

January 13, 2018

2018

WWW.THEBESTLIFENETWORK.COM

" There are many motivational talks that
come to the city, but nothing quite like Ignite. What they
offer really moves people to live their best life.”
-Shauna Harper, Live Work Communications

TTAWA — The federal government is steering Canada
into a bold and risky social
experiment with proposed
new laws legalizing recreational marijuana for those aged
18 and older – and stringent new
criminal sanctions for those who
break them.
The bundle of bills tabled
Thursday in the House of Commons marks the start of a lengthy
process which, once complete in
July 2018, will usher in a dramatic
cultural change, its ramifications
reaching into nearly every aspect
of Canadian society.
Since the 2015 election campaign, the Liberals have couched
their push to legalize pot in a
counterintuitive message: that it
is the single best way to keep the
drug out of the hands of impressionable and still-developing
children.
The long-standing prohibition
on pot in Canada has been an
“abject failure,” with police forces
spending upwards of $3 billion a
year trying to stamp out cannabis
use among some of the heaviest users in the western world,
said Public Safety Minister Ralph
Goodale.
Criminals on the black market
are the ones profiting from the
current system, to the tune of anywhere from $7 billion to $8 billion
a year, Goodale said.
In short, he said: “We simply
have to do better.”
Bill Blair, the ex-Toronto police
chief turned Liberal MP, said the
objective is not to promote the
use of pot, but to allow its safe,
socially responsible use through
the mechanism of legislation and
strict regulation.
Another objective that became
clear Thursday: impose significantly more rigid laws to combat
impaired driving in all its forms,
be it alcohol or drugs.
Driving under the influence is a
major contributor to deadly road
crashes in Canada, Justice Minister
Jody Wilson-Raybould said, calling
young impaired people the single
largest group of drivers killed in
motor vehicle accidents in Canada.
The legislation, once passed,
would allow police to use what she
called “oral fluid screening devices”
to check for marijuana impairment,
while also creating brand new
driving offences for those caught
driving while impaired by pot.
Police would be able to demand a saliva sample if they have
“reasonable suspicion” a driver
has drugs in their body; a positive
test result would then help officers
identify “reasonable grounds” to
demand a blood sample or further
drug evaluation.
“I am confident of the constitutionality of the mandatory road side
testing,” Wilson-Raybould said.
“This is not a device or a tool
that does not exist in other places
in the world. In fact, mandatory
roadside testing in many countries
has significantly reduced the number of deaths on our highways.”
Ottawa is leaving it up to the
provincial and territorial govern-

CP PHOTO

Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale, Justice Minister and Attorney General of Canada Jody WilsonRaybould and Health Minister Jane Philpott announce changes regarding the legalization of marijuana during a news conference in
Ottawa on Thursday.

Need an advertising
strategy?
The Citizen can help

Highlights from Thursday’s suite of pot-legalization bills
OTTAWA (CP) — Some of the highlights from
the suite of bills introduced Thursday by the
federal Liberal government to legalize recreational marijuana:
• Sales to be restricted to people age 18 and
older, although provinces would have the
jurisdiction to increase their own minimum
age.
• Adults 18 and older would be allowed to
publicly possess up to 30 grams of dried cannabis, or its equivalent in non-dried form.
• Sales by mail or courier through a federally
licensed producer would be allowed in provments to prescribe rules for retail
environments, including whether
marijuana can be sold alongside
alcohol, as well as to properly
regulate and distribute the drug.
That means the challenge now
before the provincial and territorial governments is nothing short
of monumental.
“I think that if we get it right, it
can work,” said Alberta Premier
Rachel Notley.
“I also know that there is a lot of
heavy lifting to be done to get there
... One of the things we know, for
instance, is that it’s not the cash cow
that people think it is and there are
a lot of costs associated with it.”
Opposition reaction Thursday
ran the gamut: the Conservatives
shook their heads at what they are
convinced is a bad idea, while the
New Democrats wondered what
took so long.
“I have to ask myself why this
bill wouldn’t have been tabled
six or 12 months ago,” said NDP

inces that lack a regulated retail system.
• Adults aged 18 and older would be allowed
to grow up to four cannabis plants for each
residence, with plants not to exceed one
metre in height.
• Adults aged 18 and older would also be
allowed to produce legal cannabis products,
such as food or drinks, for personal use at
home.
• At ﬁrst, sales will entail only fresh and dried
cannabis, cannabis oils and seeds and plants
for cultivation. Sales of edibles will come
later, once regulations for production and

sale can be developed.
• Possession, production and distribution
outside the legal system would remain illegal, as would imports or exports without a
federal permit. Such permits will cover only
limited purposes, such as medical or scientiﬁc cannabis and industrial hemp.
• Travellers entering Canada would still be
subject to inspections for prohibited goods,
including cannabis.
• The existing program for access to medical marijuana would continue as it currently
exists.

THe Prince GeorGe ciTizen - 2016

definition
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health critic Don Davies, noting
the challenge now before the
provinces.
His Conservative counterpart,
Colin Carrie, wondered aloud
how exactly Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau plans to keep the other
governments at bay.
“How much is legalization going
to cost?” he said. “Does he intend
on downloading this entire thing for
implementation and enforcement?”
Other questions remain unanswered.
One that dominated the conversation Thursday touched on
how the changes could impact the
country’s relationship with the
U.S., and what sort of administrative stress Canadians can expect at
the border.
Canada has been in “very close
touch” with the U.S. on the issue,
said Goodale, but he had little to
say about Canadians who might
fear trouble from American border
guards when travelling south.

“Every sovereign country has the
ability at the border to make decisions for themselves,” Goodale said.
“No one should lie at the border;
in fact under the laws of both
countries you are obliged to tell
the truth when you’re speaking to
a border services officer.”
A U.S. Embassy spokesperson,
speaking on background, said while
any changes won’t impact the relationship between the two countries,
Canadians still need to be cognizant
of the law as it stands in the U.S.
“Currently, marijuana possession
is against federal law in the United
States, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will enforce the law
as appropriate,” the official said.
“It is important that Canadians
are aware of possible actions they
may face upon attempted entrance
into the United States if they possess or have residue of marijuana.”
Exporting and importing cannabis will continue to be illegal, Goodale said. The government said

Citizen photo by brent braaten

Alice Sigurdson has spent more than 30 years volunteering in the community.

resources required by the RCMP
and the Canadian Border Services
Agency will be provided to enforce
the law at the border.
On the issue of packaging, the
government’s proposed bill suggests cannabis sales should not be
allowed packages or labels that
give reasonable grounds to believe
it could be sold to young people.
It also bars packaging containing
a “testimonial or endorsement” or
that depicts a person, character or
animal.
The legislation also includes a
prohibition for producers packaging cannabis in a way associated
with “a way of life” including
glamour, recreation, excitement,
vitality and risk.
The bill gives authority to set in
place regulations for other specific areas such as font and colour,
Health Minister Jane Philpott suggested Thursday, noting the government will take public health lessons
from issues including tobacco.

Hart Community Centre about five years
ago. She does whatever needs doing during their major events,
taking tickets, working the coat check and
clearing tables. Then
she comes back in the
morning to gather the
leftovers and deliver
them to St. Vincent’s.
“It’s taken a while to
make the Kelly Road
Craft Fair popular but
now I betcha there’s
1,000 people who walk
through those doors
on the Saturday of the
fair,” said Sigurdson,
about the event that
takes place Nov. 25
and 26.
Vendors come from
all over the north to
offer their treasures
to patrons of the fair.
There are 165 artisans
selling their handmade wares during the
event.

I

Because it’s grown over time, Sigurdson has not only relied on who she
calls her backbone,
Alyce Bonnar and
Fred Glendenning, but
called in the troops
and partnered with the
Kelly Road Dry Grad
committee.
“We just didn’t have
enough bodies to help
us so the Dry Grad students and their parents
have helped for over 25
years,” said Sigurdson.
“As you know, every
year it’s a bunch of new
grads and every year
they work well.”
To make it worth
while for the Dry Grad
committee, they are
paid for set up and
take down and also get
concession profits, she
added.
Sigurdson was also a Girl Guides
leader when her daughter was a partici-

pant and as her daughter grew out of it,
she continued to volunteer for a total of
15 years.
As if she’s not busy enough, Sigurdson
has also maintained a licensed daycare
for the last 24 years.
Her volunteerism continues to come
full circle when she sees children from
her daycare come help with the craft fair
through the Dry Grad committee. This
year, she sees four students she had in
her daycare.
Sigurdson enjoys supporting the
community during their major events
and volunteered her time at the Scotties
Tournament of Hearts in 2000 and at the
Canada Winter Games in 2015.
“I couldn’t volunteer until the evenings
so I would go in and they’d tell me where
they needed me, and I would move
from job to job and I really enjoyed that
because I wasn’t stuck to one thing,” said
Sigurdson.
“And if I’m still in good health I’ll volunteer for the Summer Games when they
come in 2022 and I do all this because
I just love working with people. It’s as
simple as that.”

advertising
strategy

*

MORE MARIJUANA

hen the crowds rush into the
Kelly Road Craft Fair year
after year, people are looking
for treasures of the season
and probably never give a
thought to who makes the magic happen
behind the scenes.
Alice Sigurdson has been the key organizer of the ever-popular event for the
last 31 years. She volunteers for the Hart
Community Association and St. Vincent
de Paul Society, too.
Sigurdson’s volunteerism is all about
community connections. Sigurdson volunteers at the Hart Community Centre
that donates the leftover food from their
many events to St. Vincent de Paul Society Drop In Centre on Second Avenue,
which provides meals to those in need in
downtown Prince George. Sigurdson is
the person who delivers the food.
The Hart Community Association also
sponsors the annual Kelly Road Craft
Fair.
Sigurdson began volunteering at the

t’s taken a
while to make
the Kelly Road
Craft Fair
popular but now
I betcha there’s
1,000 people who
walk through
those doors on the
Saturday of the
fair.
— Alice Sigurdson

With a wide array of print products and a huge reach into
the digital marketing world, the Citizen team can help
develop the perfect advertising strategy to help grow your
business, and expand your reach.

/ad-ver-ties-ing stra-ta-gee/ noun [C] (pl. advertising
strategy) 1 A campaign developed by a business to encourage
0

58307

00200

1

2016 Prince George Dining Guide

5

www.pgcitizen.ca

potential customers to purchase a good or service. An
advertising strategy is generally tailored to a target audience
perceived to be most likely out of the population to purchase
the product. 2 Advertising strategies include elements such as
geographic location, perceived demographics of the audience,
price points, special offers, and what advertising media, such
as newspaper, magazines, websites, will be used to present the
product. See also marketing strategy

he stars are aligning and fast
approaching for Northern
FanCan.
The pop culture festival
runs this year from May 5 to
May 7 at CN Centre in Prince
George.
This year’s lineup includes actors portraying some of the most beloved characters of
fan favourite science fiction and fantasy TV
and movie franchises.
Karl Urban has had the good fortune of
being in several of them. The New Zealander first came to prominence via a pair
of TV series: Xena, Warrior Princess and
Hercules.
From there, he leapt to the big screen,
where he played Eomer, the Prince of Rohan, in The Two Towers and The Return of
the King, the second and third installments
of the Peter Jackson live-action adaptation
of The Lord of the Rings.
More recently, he’s put on the uniform of
Starfleet Command and takes his position
on the Starship Enterprise in the last three
Star Trek movies, playing none other than
ship’s doctor Leonard “Bones” McCoy.
— see URBAN, page 3

NortherN BC’s sourCe for everythiNg Bridal

Re-Opening BRule COal PG
Mine is undeRway 08

CITIZEN FILE PHOTO

Brett Cullen poses with Stormtroopers from the 501st Legion Outerrim Garrison on May 15, 2016 during the final day of the
2016 Northern FanCon in Prince George.

Acknowledgements
The Chamber of Commerce would like to acknowledge
and thank Action Motors for providing all the
transportation for the Prince George Showcase Tours.
Our tours can give you or your job recruit candidates, a
guided one-on-one showcase experience of our wonderful
city, its neighbourhoods, and school districts. For more
information or to book your next Prince George Showcase
Tour call the office at 250.562.2454.

Local Businesses Benefit from Carbon
Footprint Reduction
Cutting back on fossil fuels can mean BIG savings; CNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Carbon Reduction
Project for Business helps local businesses do just that! In this joint
initiative, CN works with the Chamber and the University of Northern
British Columbia. It matches students - who are taking a UNBC carbon
management course - with businesses looking to reduce their emissions.
These businesses have the opportunity to become more environmentally
sustainable, as they receive a free carbon footprint analysis (done according
to internationally recognized standards).
This collaboration also helps students learn, by providing real-world case
studies. The new initiative gives back to the community by encouraging
innovative solutions toward reducing carbon consumption.
Please contact us to learn more, or sign up!